This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of nesting optimization algorithms in the shipbuilding industry,emphasizing their role in improving material utilization,minimizing waste,and enhancing production ...This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of nesting optimization algorithms in the shipbuilding industry,emphasizing their role in improving material utilization,minimizing waste,and enhancing production efficiency.The shipbuilding process involves the complex cutting and arrangement of steel plates,making the optimization of these operations vital for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.Nesting algorithms are broadly classified into four categories:exact,heuristic,metaheuristic,and hybrid.Exact algorithms ensure optimal solutions but are computationally demanding.In contrast,heuristic algorithms deliver quicker results using practical rules,although they may not consistently achieve optimal outcomes.Metaheuristic algorithms combine multiple heuristics to effectively explore solution spaces,striking a balance between solution quality and computational efficiency.Hybrid algorithms integrate the strengths of different approaches to further enhance performance.This review systematically assesses these algorithms using criteria such as material dimensions,part geometry,component layout,and computational efficiency.The findings highlight the significant potential of advanced nesting techniques to improve material utilization,reduce production costs,and promote sustainable practices in shipbuilding.By adopting suitable nesting solutions,shipbuilders can achieve greater efficiency,optimized resource management,and superior overall performance.Future research directions should focus on integrating machine learning and real-time adaptability to further enhance nesting algorithms,paving the way for smarter,more sustainable manufacturing practices in the shipbuilding industry.展开更多
Predator dummies are usually used to explore the impact of predator features on the anti-predator behavior of birds.Previous studies have shown that the morphology and behavior of aerial predators can signal different...Predator dummies are usually used to explore the impact of predator features on the anti-predator behavior of birds.Previous studies have shown that the morphology and behavior of aerial predators can signal different threat levels to birds.However,whether subtle changes in ground predator dummies cause changes in the nest defense behavior of parent birds is unclear.In this study,we aimed to investigate whether Japanese Tits(Parus minor)exhibit different nest defense behaviors in response to experimentally manipulated variations in the appearance,posture,and size of virtual snake proxies(common nest predators).During the incubation period,we observed the nest defense behaviors of the parent tits against taxidermized Siberian Ratsnakes(Elaphe schrenckii)with varied characteristics and rubber-made model snakes.The tits exhibited more intense responses to taxidermized large(body length about 120 cm)coiled ratsnakes than to large coiled model snakes.They exhibited weaker responses to taxidermized small(body length about 20 cm)coiled ratsnakes than to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes.In addition,they exhibited more intense responses to taxidermized large coiled ratsnakes than to taxidermized small coiled ratsnakes,and more intense responses to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes than to large model snakes.However,there was no difference in the response of tits to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes and taxidermized large coiled ratsnakes,or to taxidermized small coiled ratsnakes and model snakes.Thus,the presence of scales,a sinusoidal posture,and a large body size of snake dummies can induce more intense behavioral responses in Japanese Tits.We suggested that Japanese Tits can discriminate subtle differences in ground predator dummies of nests and exhibit different nest defense behaviors.展开更多
Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of ...Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of roadside birds in the neotropics.Our goal was to evaluate the effects of spatial,temporal,and vehicle flow variations on the survival of artificial open-cup nests.The study was carried out in a nature reserve on the side of a highway during the breeding season(from October to March)in two restinga(sand-coastal plain)phytophysiognomies in southeastern Brazil:non-floodable(open)and floodable(closed).One hundred thirty nests were distributed along transects ranging from 3 m to 300 m from the highway in each vegetation type(totaling 260 nests).The nests were checked every three days for their status(depredated or intact)over 12 days,and new nests were subsequently placed near sampling points of depredated or successful nests.We estimated survival using logistic exposure generalized linear and additive mixed models.At the end of the 180 days of the experiment,33%of 6202 nests were successful.Nest survival was higher in open restinga than in closed restinga.In both habitats,nest survival was lowest mid-season and highest at the beginning and end.Survival rates peaked near the highway,declined up to 50 m away,then showed a slight increase.Finally,survival increased at moderate-to-high traffic volumes(∼22,000 vehicles/day),particularly in open restinga.We suggest that spatial,temporal,and habitat-specific highway impacts(e.g.,noise,vibration,visual stimuli)can lead to variations in the activity of nest predators,generating fluctuations in nest survival associated with predator behavior.展开更多
Propane dehydrogenation(PDH)has emerged as a key on-purpose technology for the production of propylene,but it often depends on toxic chromium and expensive platinum catalysts,highlighting the need for environmentally ...Propane dehydrogenation(PDH)has emerged as a key on-purpose technology for the production of propylene,but it often depends on toxic chromium and expensive platinum catalysts,highlighting the need for environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives.In this study,we developed a facile impregnation method to fabricate unsaturated Co single-atoms with a tricoordinated Co_(1)O_(3)H_(x) structure by regulating silanol nests in purely siliceous Beta zeolites.Detailed PDH catalytic tests and characterizations revealed a positive correlation between the presence of silanol nests and enhanced catalytic activity.Additionally,the unsaturated Co single-atoms exhibited a carbon deposition rate more than an order of magnitude slower than that of Co nanoparticles.Notably,the optimized Co_(0.3%)/deAl-meso-Beta catalyst achieved a record-high propylene formation rate of 21.2 mmol_(C3H6) g_(cat)^(-1) h^(-1),with an exceptional propylene selectivity of 99.1%at 550℃.Moreover,the Co_(0.3%)/deAl-meso-Beta catalyst demonstrated excellent stability,with negligible deactivation after 5 consecutive regeneration cycles.This study emphasizes the pivotal role of silanol nests of zeolites in stabilizing and modulating the coordination environment of metallic active sites,providing valuable insights for the design of high-activity,high-stability,and low-cost PDH catalysts.展开更多
Urban green spaces and parks offer opportunities for retaining and increasing bird richness, diversity, and species abundance. However, urbanisation influences predator–prey interactions, leading to high predation ra...Urban green spaces and parks offer opportunities for retaining and increasing bird richness, diversity, and species abundance. However, urbanisation influences predator–prey interactions, leading to high predation rates in urban areas, in the UK notably through the presence of large populations of domestic cats and increased populations of synanthropic species, such as rats and squirrels. These high predation rates are assumed to be a significant cause of reproductive failure in birds. Some ecologists advocate for the use of buffer zones with reduced human influence to reduce potential hunting pressure in eco-sensitive areas. However, the buffer effect on predation rates of nesting birds in suburban areas is rarely investigated. In this study, we investigated how edge effects (how close nest sites are to housing) and nest height (i.e., ground vs. above-ground) affected nest predation rates in a suburban park using camera traps to monitor artificial nests containing quail eggs. Our hypothesis was that nests in the buffer area (<300 m inward from university boundary) and at low height would suffer higher predation rates than nests in the core area (>300 m from the university boundary) and at height, as the buffer zone effect, and ease of access to ground predators would result in higher predation rates. We found no significant effect of nest height in nest predation rates. However, contrary to our expectations, nests in the core zone suffered higher predation rates than those in the buffer zone, and corvids were responsible for almost half of the egg loss events. We speculate that this may be a consequence of higher levels of anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., pedestrians, dog walking, vehicles) adjacent to our buffer zone acting as a deterrent to avian nest predators. This work suggests that protecting urban sites from disturbance may not always act to support bird abundance.展开更多
Avian incubation is characterised by the contact between the eggs and the bird's skin to transfer heat to increase egg temperature above ambient conditions. Birds can be attentive to the clutch all of the time or,...Avian incubation is characterised by the contact between the eggs and the bird's skin to transfer heat to increase egg temperature above ambient conditions. Birds can be attentive to the clutch all of the time or, particularly if only one parent incubates, attentiveness may be quite low. Attentiveness is related to egg size with large eggs having high attentiveness, whereas small eggs (<10 g) can have attentiveness ranging from 50% to 100%. Previous studies have suggested that incubation duration is a function of attentiveness albeit for small birds. This study tested the hypothesis that, after controlling for egg size and phylogeny, incubation duration would be a function of attentiveness. Data for 444 bird species representing 24 orders were analysed. Whilst egg mass had a significant relationship with incubation duration, there was no relationship with attentiveness for all of the species or a subset of the passerines. Despite egg temperature drops during an incubation recess, average day-time and night-time temperatures are similar in a range of species. Re-examination of previously reported temperature profiles recorded by dummy eggs over a 24-h period shows that after an incubation recess there seems to be an additional heat flux that raises egg temperature above that seen during night-time periods of constant incubation. The reasons why eggs under intermittent incubation are not considerably cooler than eggs during constant incubation are discussed.展开更多
Nest predation is the leading cause of reproductive failure in birds and a major driving force in the evolution of anti-predation strategies.Current studies on the anti-predation strategies of birds driven by predatio...Nest predation is the leading cause of reproductive failure in birds and a major driving force in the evolution of anti-predation strategies.Current studies on the anti-predation strategies of birds driven by predation pressure have mainly focused on adults.However,the detection and behavioral responses of nestlings toward predation risk require further investigation.In this study,we examined nestling responses to predator sounds.Two species of nestlings,the Reed Parrotbill(Paradoxornis heudei)and Vinous-throated Parrotbill(Sinosuthora webbiana),were exposed to the Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus,less common)and Oriental Magpie(Pica serica,more common),which are predator species,the Oriental Turtle Dove(Streptopelia orientalis),which is a commonly found harmless species,and background noise.Our findings revealed that compared to pre-playback of natural begging and playback of background noise and Oriental Turtle Dove sounds,playback of the two predator types decreased the total begging time and total number of calls of the two nestlings species,with the calls of the Sparrowhawk leading to greater suppression of nestling begging behavior than those of the Oriental Magpie.Therefore,our results indicated that these nestlings were able to distinguish predators from harmless species based on auditory cues.展开更多
Sparse array design has significant implications for improving the accuracy of direction of arrival(DOA)estimation of non-circular(NC)signals.We propose an extended nested array with a filled sensor(ENAFS)based on the...Sparse array design has significant implications for improving the accuracy of direction of arrival(DOA)estimation of non-circular(NC)signals.We propose an extended nested array with a filled sensor(ENAFS)based on the hole-filling strategy.Specifically,we first introduce the improved nested array(INA)and prove its properties.Subsequently,we extend the sum-difference coarray(SDCA)by adding an additional sensor to fill the holes.Thus the larger uniform degrees of freedom(uDOFs)and virtual array aperture(VAA)can be abtained,and the ENAFS is designed.Finally,the simulation results are given to verify the superiority of the proposed ENAFS in terms of DOF,mutual coupling and estimation performance.展开更多
Objective:To observe and study the practical value of adopting nest nursing in neonatal nursing.Methods:From January 2023 to January 2024,a total of 382 newborns that were admitted to the hospital were selected to car...Objective:To observe and study the practical value of adopting nest nursing in neonatal nursing.Methods:From January 2023 to January 2024,a total of 382 newborns that were admitted to the hospital were selected to carry out this study.They were divided into two groups,the routine group and the observation group,with 191 cases in each group.Newborns in the routine group were given basic nursing intervention,while those in the observation group were given bird’s nest nursing intervention.The growth and development indexes,the occurrence of adverse reactions,the improvement of gastrointestinal function,and the nursing satisfaction rate of their families were analyzed and studied.Results:The growth and development indexes of newborns in the observation group were significantly better than those in the routine group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse neonatal reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the routine group(P<0.05).The improvement of gastrointestinal function of newborns in the observation group was significantly better than that in the routine group(P<0.05).The nursing satisfaction rate of newborns’families in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the routine group(P<0.05).Conclusion:As for the key points of clinical newborn care,the actual effect of adopting the bird’s nest nursing intervention is more prominent,and its main function is to promote the growth and development of newborns.It can not only avoid the risk of adverse reactions in many aspects but also improve the gastrointestinal function of newborns,so that the nursing satisfaction rate of family members is obviously improved.It is recommended to be applied and popularized in clinical practice.展开更多
Objective:To explore the application effect of improved“Bird’s nest”nursing in the transport of premature infants.Methods:Collecting 100 cases of premature infants,randomly divided into experimental group and contr...Objective:To explore the application effect of improved“Bird’s nest”nursing in the transport of premature infants.Methods:Collecting 100 cases of premature infants,randomly divided into experimental group and control group,two groups of premature 50 cases each.The control group received the traditional“Bird’s nest”nursing.Experimental group in modified the“bird’s nest”nursing intervention,compared two groups of premature monitoring vital signs during the transfer process,transport after the body development indicators,the time and cure warmers intervention.Results:Compared with control group,experimental group premature temperature fluctuation is small,apnea and fewer times of low body temperature and oxygen saturation is higher,the contrast results with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in physical development,time to get out of the incubator,and cure rate.Conclusion:Modified the“bird’s nest”care in outside the hospital application,help to improve premature transfer process safety,and security for premature success implementation of transshipment is of great significance.展开更多
Nests are important structures for birds to raise their offspring and for signaling.Many birds incorporate feathers into the nest,since feathers were traditionally thought to serve the function of insulation.Hypothese...Nests are important structures for birds to raise their offspring and for signaling.Many birds incorporate feathers into the nest,since feathers were traditionally thought to serve the function of insulation.Hypotheses in recent years have considered that some birds place feathers in conspicuous locations in the nest for decoration to trigger a fear response in the competitors.In this study,we investigated whether decorative feathers could deter nest usurpation by Crested Mynas(Acridotheres cristatellus)by manipulating nest box contents.The results revealed that Crested Mynas preferred black feathers to white feathers as decorations and occupied nest boxes decorated with black feathers significantly less than those decorated with white feathers,suggesting that black decorative feathers in the nest could be more effective in preventing nest usurpation by Crested Mynas and that white decorative feathers may have other functions.The black feathers in the nest are prominently placed at the edge of the nest to convey the message that“this nest is occupied”or“the owner of this nest has been preyed upon”to visitor Crested Mynas,thus effectively preventing them from usurping the nest at a later stage.展开更多
We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in...We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran.We compared selected features of nesting,territory,and outside territory tree stands of the studied woodpeckers.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker occupied only oak forests,but the Syrian Woodpecker inhabited heterogenic forests that included the preferred tree of this species,the Mount Atlas Mastic.We recorded that in the breeding territories of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker,a greater area covered by tree crowns,as well as a larger number of trees,and a larger trunk basal area were observed in comparison to the territories occupied by the more plastic Syrian Woodpecker.Different habitat preferences demonstrated by both species could be a result of the selection of tree stands that provide the necessary food resources for each woodpecker species.Adaptation of Syrian Woodpecker to use heterogenic forest stands including tree species that produce fruits and as Mount Atlas Mastic trees,which likely allowed this species to colonise in Asia and Europe non-forest tree stands as orchards or gardens.Our results showed that poor tree condition and large tree trunk dimensions had a positive impact on the selection of nesting sites by both species.The presence of trees with large trunk dimensions was associated with multiple years of use of woodpecker breeding sites in the studied forests.Maintaining habitats in suitable condition for both studied woodpeckers can be achieved by preserving natural forests in the mountain regions of Iran.展开更多
The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide an informative and easy-to-handle system for studying coevolution.Avian brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts,and thus,hosts ...The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide an informative and easy-to-handle system for studying coevolution.Avian brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts,and thus,hosts have evolved anti-parasitic strategies,such as rejecting parasitic eggs and adopting aggressive nest defense strategies,to avoid the cost brought on by brood parasitism.To test whether host anti-parasitic strategies are adjusted with the risk of being parasitized when the breeding seasons of brood parasites and hosts are not synchronous,we conducted a field experiment assessing nest defense and egg recognition behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike(Lanius isabellinus),a host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).In the local area,the host Isabelline Shrike begins to breed in April,whereas the summer migratory Common Cuckoo migrates to the local area in May and begins to lay parasitic eggs.Results showed that nest defense behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike increases significantly after cuckoo arrival,showing higher aggressiveness to cuckoo dummies,with no significant difference in attack rates among cuckoo,sparrowhawk and dove dummies,but their egg rejection did not change significantly.These results imply that Isabelline Shrikes may adjust their nest defense behavior,but not egg rejection behavior,with seasonality.展开更多
Urbanization induced by human activities presents both challenges and adaptive opportunities for wildlife.One notable impact of urban sprawl is the vast amount of waste it produces,which has discernible effects on wil...Urbanization induced by human activities presents both challenges and adaptive opportunities for wildlife.One notable impact of urban sprawl is the vast amount of waste it produces,which has discernible effects on wildlife.Interestingly,an emerging trend has been observed that birds are incorporating anthropogenic materials into their nests.However,the relationship between anthropogenic nesting materials(ANMs)and the reproductive performance of urban birds is unclear.In this study,we investigated the relationship between the incorporation of ANMs into nests and the reproductive performance of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)by monitoring and collecting data on 136 breeding nests in Hangzhou,China.We gathered data on seven reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls,including laying date,incubation period,nestling period,clutch size,egg volume,hatching success rate,and fledging success rate.We then calculated the urbanization synthetic index as a measure of the level of urbanization and examined its relationship with the proportion and weight of ANMs.Through examination of nest components,we observed significant increase in the proportion and weight of ANMs with the urbanization synthetic index.Notably,we found a higher hatching success rate of Chinese Bulbuls with an increasing proportion of ANMs.However,the inclusion of ANMs in nests was not correlated with other reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls.Overall,the use of ANMs by Chinese Bulbuls is consistent with the adaptive hypothesis and the availability hypothesis.Further studies should use controlled experiments to investigate the impact of ANMs on avian reproductive success.展开更多
The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission will carry a nested X-ray telescope capable of observing an energy range from 0.5 keV to 2 keV to study hot baryon evolution. In this paper, we report the latest progres...The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission will carry a nested X-ray telescope capable of observing an energy range from 0.5 keV to 2 keV to study hot baryon evolution. In this paper, we report the latest progress in the design and construction of nested X-ray telescopes which were designed to use a three-stage conic-approximation type assembly to simplify the manufacturing process. The mirror substrate is made using the thermal glass slumping method, with mirrors characterized by a root-mean-square roughness of 0.3 nm, with expected high reflectivity and good thermal stability. We also discuss methods of telescope construction and conduct a deformation analysis of the manufactured mirror. The in situ measurement system program is developed to guide the telescope assembly process.展开更多
Background:Research activities have often been thought to potentially influence avian nesting success by increasing nest predation rates.Although recent studies of species building open nests and cavity nests suggest ...Background:Research activities have often been thought to potentially influence avian nesting success by increasing nest predation rates.Although recent studies of species building open nests and cavity nests suggest that research disturbance does not generally induce nest predation,whether it is also the case in species building domednests remains unknown.In birds,domed-nest species exist in about half of the passerine families,and research disturbance to the domed nests may differ from that to the nests of other types for their different nest structures.Methods:We investigated if research activities affected nest predation rate by analyzing the relationships of the daily nest survival rate with the research activities at the egg and nestling stages of a domed-nest species,the Silverthroated Tit(Aegithalos glaucogularis).Results:Our results showed that nest daily survival rate was significantly affected by the laying date and nest age during the egg stage,and by the hatching date only during the nestling stage.By contrast,there were no significant effects of research activities,in terms of visiting nests and filming nests,on the nest survival of the Silver-throated Tit at both the egg and nestling stages.Conclusions:Our results coincide with the findings in species building other types of nests that research activities do not always have negative effects on avian nesting success.展开更多
Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be...Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species.A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat.Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer.Following this hypothesis,we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells,expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests.More than 75% of Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years.The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests.The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells,double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern.The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.展开更多
Filling methods in the mining industry can maximize the recovery of mineral resources and protect the underground and surface environments.In recent years,such methods have been widely used in metal mines where pipeli...Filling methods in the mining industry can maximize the recovery of mineral resources and protect the underground and surface environments.In recent years,such methods have been widely used in metal mines where pipeline transportation typically plays a decisive role in the safety and stability of the entirefilling system.Because thefilling slurry contains a large percentage of solid coarse particles,the involved pipeline is typically eroded and often damaged during such a process.A possible solution is the so-called nesting repair technology.In the present study,nesting a 127 mm outer diameter pipeline in 151 mm inner diameter borehole is considered to meet the repair objective.First,by using the rheological theory,the pipeline transmission resistance and self-flow conveying range are calculated under different working conditions.It is shown that the pipeline transmission resistance is larger when the inner diameter of casing is 80 mm,and the limitflow rate of vertical pipeline self-flow is 120 m^(3)/h;moreover,when the pipeline diameter is 100 mm and theflow rate is 140 m^(3)/h,the self-flow conveying can be satisfied in most of the underground−455 m stage.Accordingly,a plan is presented for the nesting repair strategy,based on the installation of a drill bit under the casing and lowering the casing into the borehole as if it were a drill pipe.Finally,the outcomes of such a strategy are verified.Thefillingflow rate range using the new pipelines is found to be in the range from 188.60 to 224.39 m^(3)/h,and its averagefillingflow rate reaches 209.83 m^(3)/h when conveying 2319.6 m long-distance quarry.展开更多
文摘This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of nesting optimization algorithms in the shipbuilding industry,emphasizing their role in improving material utilization,minimizing waste,and enhancing production efficiency.The shipbuilding process involves the complex cutting and arrangement of steel plates,making the optimization of these operations vital for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.Nesting algorithms are broadly classified into four categories:exact,heuristic,metaheuristic,and hybrid.Exact algorithms ensure optimal solutions but are computationally demanding.In contrast,heuristic algorithms deliver quicker results using practical rules,although they may not consistently achieve optimal outcomes.Metaheuristic algorithms combine multiple heuristics to effectively explore solution spaces,striking a balance between solution quality and computational efficiency.Hybrid algorithms integrate the strengths of different approaches to further enhance performance.This review systematically assesses these algorithms using criteria such as material dimensions,part geometry,component layout,and computational efficiency.The findings highlight the significant potential of advanced nesting techniques to improve material utilization,reduce production costs,and promote sustainable practices in shipbuilding.By adopting suitable nesting solutions,shipbuilders can achieve greater efficiency,optimized resource management,and superior overall performance.Future research directions should focus on integrating machine learning and real-time adaptability to further enhance nesting algorithms,paving the way for smarter,more sustainable manufacturing practices in the shipbuilding industry.
基金sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32271560 to H.W.,32001094 to J.Y.)Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province,China(No.20230101160JC to L.J.)+1 种基金the Open Project of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands,Hainan Normal University,China(No.HNSF-OP-202301 to J.Y.)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412022ZD019 to J.Y.)。
文摘Predator dummies are usually used to explore the impact of predator features on the anti-predator behavior of birds.Previous studies have shown that the morphology and behavior of aerial predators can signal different threat levels to birds.However,whether subtle changes in ground predator dummies cause changes in the nest defense behavior of parent birds is unclear.In this study,we aimed to investigate whether Japanese Tits(Parus minor)exhibit different nest defense behaviors in response to experimentally manipulated variations in the appearance,posture,and size of virtual snake proxies(common nest predators).During the incubation period,we observed the nest defense behaviors of the parent tits against taxidermized Siberian Ratsnakes(Elaphe schrenckii)with varied characteristics and rubber-made model snakes.The tits exhibited more intense responses to taxidermized large(body length about 120 cm)coiled ratsnakes than to large coiled model snakes.They exhibited weaker responses to taxidermized small(body length about 20 cm)coiled ratsnakes than to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes.In addition,they exhibited more intense responses to taxidermized large coiled ratsnakes than to taxidermized small coiled ratsnakes,and more intense responses to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes than to large model snakes.However,there was no difference in the response of tits to taxidermized small sinusoidal ratsnakes and taxidermized large coiled ratsnakes,or to taxidermized small coiled ratsnakes and model snakes.Thus,the presence of scales,a sinusoidal posture,and a large body size of snake dummies can induce more intense behavioral responses in Japanese Tits.We suggested that Japanese Tits can discriminate subtle differences in ground predator dummies of nests and exhibit different nest defense behaviors.
基金supports were provided by the Concessionária Rodovia do Sol/SA(RodoSol)the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq,grant:45.6446/2014/1)+2 种基金the São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP,Process Number#2024/13237-3)PD received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES,grant:88887.469218/2019-00)CD is grateful to CNPq(Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa,grant:308997/2023-9).
文摘Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of roadside birds in the neotropics.Our goal was to evaluate the effects of spatial,temporal,and vehicle flow variations on the survival of artificial open-cup nests.The study was carried out in a nature reserve on the side of a highway during the breeding season(from October to March)in two restinga(sand-coastal plain)phytophysiognomies in southeastern Brazil:non-floodable(open)and floodable(closed).One hundred thirty nests were distributed along transects ranging from 3 m to 300 m from the highway in each vegetation type(totaling 260 nests).The nests were checked every three days for their status(depredated or intact)over 12 days,and new nests were subsequently placed near sampling points of depredated or successful nests.We estimated survival using logistic exposure generalized linear and additive mixed models.At the end of the 180 days of the experiment,33%of 6202 nests were successful.Nest survival was higher in open restinga than in closed restinga.In both habitats,nest survival was lowest mid-season and highest at the beginning and end.Survival rates peaked near the highway,declined up to 50 m away,then showed a slight increase.Finally,survival increased at moderate-to-high traffic volumes(∼22,000 vehicles/day),particularly in open restinga.We suggest that spatial,temporal,and habitat-specific highway impacts(e.g.,noise,vibration,visual stimuli)can lead to variations in the activity of nest predators,generating fluctuations in nest survival associated with predator behavior.
文摘Propane dehydrogenation(PDH)has emerged as a key on-purpose technology for the production of propylene,but it often depends on toxic chromium and expensive platinum catalysts,highlighting the need for environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives.In this study,we developed a facile impregnation method to fabricate unsaturated Co single-atoms with a tricoordinated Co_(1)O_(3)H_(x) structure by regulating silanol nests in purely siliceous Beta zeolites.Detailed PDH catalytic tests and characterizations revealed a positive correlation between the presence of silanol nests and enhanced catalytic activity.Additionally,the unsaturated Co single-atoms exhibited a carbon deposition rate more than an order of magnitude slower than that of Co nanoparticles.Notably,the optimized Co_(0.3%)/deAl-meso-Beta catalyst achieved a record-high propylene formation rate of 21.2 mmol_(C3H6) g_(cat)^(-1) h^(-1),with an exceptional propylene selectivity of 99.1%at 550℃.Moreover,the Co_(0.3%)/deAl-meso-Beta catalyst demonstrated excellent stability,with negligible deactivation after 5 consecutive regeneration cycles.This study emphasizes the pivotal role of silanol nests of zeolites in stabilizing and modulating the coordination environment of metallic active sites,providing valuable insights for the design of high-activity,high-stability,and low-cost PDH catalysts.
文摘Urban green spaces and parks offer opportunities for retaining and increasing bird richness, diversity, and species abundance. However, urbanisation influences predator–prey interactions, leading to high predation rates in urban areas, in the UK notably through the presence of large populations of domestic cats and increased populations of synanthropic species, such as rats and squirrels. These high predation rates are assumed to be a significant cause of reproductive failure in birds. Some ecologists advocate for the use of buffer zones with reduced human influence to reduce potential hunting pressure in eco-sensitive areas. However, the buffer effect on predation rates of nesting birds in suburban areas is rarely investigated. In this study, we investigated how edge effects (how close nest sites are to housing) and nest height (i.e., ground vs. above-ground) affected nest predation rates in a suburban park using camera traps to monitor artificial nests containing quail eggs. Our hypothesis was that nests in the buffer area (<300 m inward from university boundary) and at low height would suffer higher predation rates than nests in the core area (>300 m from the university boundary) and at height, as the buffer zone effect, and ease of access to ground predators would result in higher predation rates. We found no significant effect of nest height in nest predation rates. However, contrary to our expectations, nests in the core zone suffered higher predation rates than those in the buffer zone, and corvids were responsible for almost half of the egg loss events. We speculate that this may be a consequence of higher levels of anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., pedestrians, dog walking, vehicles) adjacent to our buffer zone acting as a deterrent to avian nest predators. This work suggests that protecting urban sites from disturbance may not always act to support bird abundance.
文摘Avian incubation is characterised by the contact between the eggs and the bird's skin to transfer heat to increase egg temperature above ambient conditions. Birds can be attentive to the clutch all of the time or, particularly if only one parent incubates, attentiveness may be quite low. Attentiveness is related to egg size with large eggs having high attentiveness, whereas small eggs (<10 g) can have attentiveness ranging from 50% to 100%. Previous studies have suggested that incubation duration is a function of attentiveness albeit for small birds. This study tested the hypothesis that, after controlling for egg size and phylogeny, incubation duration would be a function of attentiveness. Data for 444 bird species representing 24 orders were analysed. Whilst egg mass had a significant relationship with incubation duration, there was no relationship with attentiveness for all of the species or a subset of the passerines. Despite egg temperature drops during an incubation recess, average day-time and night-time temperatures are similar in a range of species. Re-examination of previously reported temperature profiles recorded by dummy eggs over a 24-h period shows that after an incubation recess there seems to be an additional heat flux that raises egg temperature above that seen during night-time periods of constant incubation. The reasons why eggs under intermittent incubation are not considerably cooler than eggs during constant incubation are discussed.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32301295 to J.W.,32101242 to L.M.and 32260253 to L.W.)High-Level Talents Research Start-Up Project of Hebei University (521100222044 to J.W.)。
文摘Nest predation is the leading cause of reproductive failure in birds and a major driving force in the evolution of anti-predation strategies.Current studies on the anti-predation strategies of birds driven by predation pressure have mainly focused on adults.However,the detection and behavioral responses of nestlings toward predation risk require further investigation.In this study,we examined nestling responses to predator sounds.Two species of nestlings,the Reed Parrotbill(Paradoxornis heudei)and Vinous-throated Parrotbill(Sinosuthora webbiana),were exposed to the Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus,less common)and Oriental Magpie(Pica serica,more common),which are predator species,the Oriental Turtle Dove(Streptopelia orientalis),which is a commonly found harmless species,and background noise.Our findings revealed that compared to pre-playback of natural begging and playback of background noise and Oriental Turtle Dove sounds,playback of the two predator types decreased the total begging time and total number of calls of the two nestlings species,with the calls of the Sparrowhawk leading to greater suppression of nestling begging behavior than those of the Oriental Magpie.Therefore,our results indicated that these nestlings were able to distinguish predators from harmless species based on auditory cues.
基金supported by China National Science Foundations(Nos.62371225,62371227)。
文摘Sparse array design has significant implications for improving the accuracy of direction of arrival(DOA)estimation of non-circular(NC)signals.We propose an extended nested array with a filled sensor(ENAFS)based on the hole-filling strategy.Specifically,we first introduce the improved nested array(INA)and prove its properties.Subsequently,we extend the sum-difference coarray(SDCA)by adding an additional sensor to fill the holes.Thus the larger uniform degrees of freedom(uDOFs)and virtual array aperture(VAA)can be abtained,and the ENAFS is designed.Finally,the simulation results are given to verify the superiority of the proposed ENAFS in terms of DOF,mutual coupling and estimation performance.
文摘Objective:To observe and study the practical value of adopting nest nursing in neonatal nursing.Methods:From January 2023 to January 2024,a total of 382 newborns that were admitted to the hospital were selected to carry out this study.They were divided into two groups,the routine group and the observation group,with 191 cases in each group.Newborns in the routine group were given basic nursing intervention,while those in the observation group were given bird’s nest nursing intervention.The growth and development indexes,the occurrence of adverse reactions,the improvement of gastrointestinal function,and the nursing satisfaction rate of their families were analyzed and studied.Results:The growth and development indexes of newborns in the observation group were significantly better than those in the routine group(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse neonatal reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the routine group(P<0.05).The improvement of gastrointestinal function of newborns in the observation group was significantly better than that in the routine group(P<0.05).The nursing satisfaction rate of newborns’families in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the routine group(P<0.05).Conclusion:As for the key points of clinical newborn care,the actual effect of adopting the bird’s nest nursing intervention is more prominent,and its main function is to promote the growth and development of newborns.It can not only avoid the risk of adverse reactions in many aspects but also improve the gastrointestinal function of newborns,so that the nursing satisfaction rate of family members is obviously improved.It is recommended to be applied and popularized in clinical practice.
基金Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,Self-Financing Scientific Research Subject(Project No.:Z20210327)。
文摘Objective:To explore the application effect of improved“Bird’s nest”nursing in the transport of premature infants.Methods:Collecting 100 cases of premature infants,randomly divided into experimental group and control group,two groups of premature 50 cases each.The control group received the traditional“Bird’s nest”nursing.Experimental group in modified the“bird’s nest”nursing intervention,compared two groups of premature monitoring vital signs during the transfer process,transport after the body development indicators,the time and cure warmers intervention.Results:Compared with control group,experimental group premature temperature fluctuation is small,apnea and fewer times of low body temperature and oxygen saturation is higher,the contrast results with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in physical development,time to get out of the incubator,and cure rate.Conclusion:Modified the“bird’s nest”care in outside the hospital application,help to improve premature transfer process safety,and security for premature success implementation of transshipment is of great significance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31970427 and 32270526 granted to W.L.).
文摘Nests are important structures for birds to raise their offspring and for signaling.Many birds incorporate feathers into the nest,since feathers were traditionally thought to serve the function of insulation.Hypotheses in recent years have considered that some birds place feathers in conspicuous locations in the nest for decoration to trigger a fear response in the competitors.In this study,we investigated whether decorative feathers could deter nest usurpation by Crested Mynas(Acridotheres cristatellus)by manipulating nest box contents.The results revealed that Crested Mynas preferred black feathers to white feathers as decorations and occupied nest boxes decorated with black feathers significantly less than those decorated with white feathers,suggesting that black decorative feathers in the nest could be more effective in preventing nest usurpation by Crested Mynas and that white decorative feathers may have other functions.The black feathers in the nest are prominently placed at the edge of the nest to convey the message that“this nest is occupied”or“the owner of this nest has been preyed upon”to visitor Crested Mynas,thus effectively preventing them from usurping the nest at a later stage.
文摘We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran.We compared selected features of nesting,territory,and outside territory tree stands of the studied woodpeckers.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker occupied only oak forests,but the Syrian Woodpecker inhabited heterogenic forests that included the preferred tree of this species,the Mount Atlas Mastic.We recorded that in the breeding territories of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker,a greater area covered by tree crowns,as well as a larger number of trees,and a larger trunk basal area were observed in comparison to the territories occupied by the more plastic Syrian Woodpecker.Different habitat preferences demonstrated by both species could be a result of the selection of tree stands that provide the necessary food resources for each woodpecker species.Adaptation of Syrian Woodpecker to use heterogenic forest stands including tree species that produce fruits and as Mount Atlas Mastic trees,which likely allowed this species to colonise in Asia and Europe non-forest tree stands as orchards or gardens.Our results showed that poor tree condition and large tree trunk dimensions had a positive impact on the selection of nesting sites by both species.The presence of trees with large trunk dimensions was associated with multiple years of use of woodpecker breeding sites in the studied forests.Maintaining habitats in suitable condition for both studied woodpeckers can be achieved by preserving natural forests in the mountain regions of Iran.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31970427 and 32270526 to WL)。
文摘The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide an informative and easy-to-handle system for studying coevolution.Avian brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts,and thus,hosts have evolved anti-parasitic strategies,such as rejecting parasitic eggs and adopting aggressive nest defense strategies,to avoid the cost brought on by brood parasitism.To test whether host anti-parasitic strategies are adjusted with the risk of being parasitized when the breeding seasons of brood parasites and hosts are not synchronous,we conducted a field experiment assessing nest defense and egg recognition behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike(Lanius isabellinus),a host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).In the local area,the host Isabelline Shrike begins to breed in April,whereas the summer migratory Common Cuckoo migrates to the local area in May and begins to lay parasitic eggs.Results showed that nest defense behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike increases significantly after cuckoo arrival,showing higher aggressiveness to cuckoo dummies,with no significant difference in attack rates among cuckoo,sparrowhawk and dove dummies,but their egg rejection did not change significantly.These results imply that Isabelline Shrikes may adjust their nest defense behavior,but not egg rejection behavior,with seasonality.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271743,31071908).
文摘Urbanization induced by human activities presents both challenges and adaptive opportunities for wildlife.One notable impact of urban sprawl is the vast amount of waste it produces,which has discernible effects on wildlife.Interestingly,an emerging trend has been observed that birds are incorporating anthropogenic materials into their nests.However,the relationship between anthropogenic nesting materials(ANMs)and the reproductive performance of urban birds is unclear.In this study,we investigated the relationship between the incorporation of ANMs into nests and the reproductive performance of Chinese Bulbuls(Pycnonotus sinensis)by monitoring and collecting data on 136 breeding nests in Hangzhou,China.We gathered data on seven reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls,including laying date,incubation period,nestling period,clutch size,egg volume,hatching success rate,and fledging success rate.We then calculated the urbanization synthetic index as a measure of the level of urbanization and examined its relationship with the proportion and weight of ANMs.Through examination of nest components,we observed significant increase in the proportion and weight of ANMs with the urbanization synthetic index.Notably,we found a higher hatching success rate of Chinese Bulbuls with an increasing proportion of ANMs.However,the inclusion of ANMs in nests was not correlated with other reproductive traits of Chinese Bulbuls.Overall,the use of ANMs by Chinese Bulbuls is consistent with the adaptive hypothesis and the availability hypothesis.Further studies should use controlled experiments to investigate the impact of ANMs on avian reproductive success.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFF0709101)China National Space Administration (D050104)National Natural Science Foundation of China (62105244 and U2030111)。
文摘The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission will carry a nested X-ray telescope capable of observing an energy range from 0.5 keV to 2 keV to study hot baryon evolution. In this paper, we report the latest progress in the design and construction of nested X-ray telescopes which were designed to use a three-stage conic-approximation type assembly to simplify the manufacturing process. The mirror substrate is made using the thermal glass slumping method, with mirrors characterized by a root-mean-square roughness of 0.3 nm, with expected high reflectivity and good thermal stability. We also discuss methods of telescope construction and conduct a deformation analysis of the manufactured mirror. The in situ measurement system program is developed to guide the telescope assembly process.
基金This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31970421,31472011,31101644).
文摘Background:Research activities have often been thought to potentially influence avian nesting success by increasing nest predation rates.Although recent studies of species building open nests and cavity nests suggest that research disturbance does not generally induce nest predation,whether it is also the case in species building domednests remains unknown.In birds,domed-nest species exist in about half of the passerine families,and research disturbance to the domed nests may differ from that to the nests of other types for their different nest structures.Methods:We investigated if research activities affected nest predation rate by analyzing the relationships of the daily nest survival rate with the research activities at the egg and nestling stages of a domed-nest species,the Silverthroated Tit(Aegithalos glaucogularis).Results:Our results showed that nest daily survival rate was significantly affected by the laying date and nest age during the egg stage,and by the hatching date only during the nestling stage.By contrast,there were no significant effects of research activities,in terms of visiting nests and filming nests,on the nest survival of the Silver-throated Tit at both the egg and nestling stages.Conclusions:Our results coincide with the findings in species building other types of nests that research activities do not always have negative effects on avian nesting success.
基金Servicio de Gestión del Medio Natural-Delegación de Cádiz from Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medioambiente y Economía Azul (regional government)Saltpan Initiative Project (MAVA Foundation) and MEDARTSALT project (EU-ENICBC) provided the funding for the studyfunded by the Margarita Salas Grant (2021-067/PN/MS-RECUAL/CD) from the Ministry of Universities of the Government of Spain and the European Union。
文摘Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species.A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat.Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer.Following this hypothesis,we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells,expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests.More than 75% of Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years.The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests.The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells,double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern.The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.
基金supported by the State Key Research Development Program of China(2018YFC0603705)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(FRF-IDRYGD22-004).
文摘Filling methods in the mining industry can maximize the recovery of mineral resources and protect the underground and surface environments.In recent years,such methods have been widely used in metal mines where pipeline transportation typically plays a decisive role in the safety and stability of the entirefilling system.Because thefilling slurry contains a large percentage of solid coarse particles,the involved pipeline is typically eroded and often damaged during such a process.A possible solution is the so-called nesting repair technology.In the present study,nesting a 127 mm outer diameter pipeline in 151 mm inner diameter borehole is considered to meet the repair objective.First,by using the rheological theory,the pipeline transmission resistance and self-flow conveying range are calculated under different working conditions.It is shown that the pipeline transmission resistance is larger when the inner diameter of casing is 80 mm,and the limitflow rate of vertical pipeline self-flow is 120 m^(3)/h;moreover,when the pipeline diameter is 100 mm and theflow rate is 140 m^(3)/h,the self-flow conveying can be satisfied in most of the underground−455 m stage.Accordingly,a plan is presented for the nesting repair strategy,based on the installation of a drill bit under the casing and lowering the casing into the borehole as if it were a drill pipe.Finally,the outcomes of such a strategy are verified.Thefillingflow rate range using the new pipelines is found to be in the range from 188.60 to 224.39 m^(3)/h,and its averagefillingflow rate reaches 209.83 m^(3)/h when conveying 2319.6 m long-distance quarry.
